1
as in troubled
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2
as in depressed
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Dissimilar Words
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
don't let all the bad news distress you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distressed
Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
There wasn’t a single distressed person to see.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Dr. Ellen S. Rome, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
The speech was largely a list of what the president sees as his accomplishments on the economy, with little nod to a wave of recent polls showing Americans distressed by the cost of living.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distressed
Adjective
The large tabletop is ideal for setting out snacks or playing a game with friends, while the distressed, two-tone brown-and-white finish blends easily with existing furniture.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
There wasn’t a single distressed person to see.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
For some with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), they may be distressed by the prospect of germs or how foods are prepared.
—Dr. Ellen S. Rome, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
The speech was largely a list of what the president sees as his accomplishments on the economy, with little nod to a wave of recent polls showing Americans distressed by the cost of living.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distressed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distressed
Adjective
-
Instead, the 35-year-old is shifting gears by turning her troubled past into a new trade.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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An English boarding school for troubled boys is the backdrop of this quiet yet accomplished début novel, set in 1976.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Aside from the loneliness, Rowland says day-after-day stuck inside has left her depressed and fearing the worst.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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The first episode largely focuses on the male perspective through the eyes of the angry, lonely, and depressed Jeremy (Jaquel Spivey).—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While this alarmed some users, this type of intrusive data harvesting is common on social media apps.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 Jan. 2026
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For those frustrated and alarmed by the killings and ICE’s aggressive tactics, the DMB said that their charity, Bama Works, have made donations to the ACLU and the ACLU of Minnesota.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dickinson appeared somewhere between perturbed and seething.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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So, in one way or another, everyone is disturbed here.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
As a Black oncologist, I was deeply disturbed by this data.—
Yehoda Martei,
STAT,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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They easily could have been mistaken for agitated sports fans, and their actions were small and diffuse enough that they could be quickly dispersed.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Stewart conjures Lidia’s complex inner life with agitated images and a bold editing scheme that flashes back and ahead.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Amodei warned this week, AI may yet be positioned to inflict maximum damage on a hapless and perpetually distracted human race.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Reigns, then, took care of Fatu when Fatu was distracted by the happenings between McIntyre and Rhodes.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
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Louisville officials hope the reduced traffic from schools being closed will give its snow team more time to tackle snow and freezing temperatures with little disruption.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distressed. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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